RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Brazil, whose tour programme is organised by British agents Pitch International, have another two marquee matches in March that are also seen as crucial to their World Cup preparation.

They will play Russia to mark the re-opening of Moscow's revamped Luzhniki Stadium, which will stage the World Cup final. Then they play the world champions in Germany, hoping to avenge that humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat on home soil in 2014.

There is no reference to former England boss Sam Allardyce at St George's Park

Sam Allardyce may only have been England manager for one match.

But St George's Park, which has hotel and meeting rooms, driveways, pitches, pictures and posters recognising every other national team boss, has no reference to Big Sam anywhere.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is said to be committed to reforming player transfers with the ruling body taking charge of the system.

Having got the main professional leagues onside, a working group drawn from all parts of the game are formulating serious changes.

Among the proposals are points deductions for clubs who renege on agreed payment schedules.

And agents will be paid only by their players and not clubs to simplify tax requirements.

FIFA had previously washed their hands of keeping control of agents.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is said to be committed to reforming transfers in the game

The ECB had a leadership team away day at the London Stadium on Monday, choosing the venue partly because it will stage two matches at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Hopefully the ECB executives did not leave in droves before the end of the meeting as West Ham fans are known to.

Blue shirt's Nazi past

There is an ignominious history around the only other time England have played at home in a blue shirt as they will against Germany at Wembley, which was revealed by Sports Agenda on Monday.

It was also against Germany, on December 4, 1935, at White Hart Lane, where the Nazi swastika flag flew above the stadium and the German team raised their arms in a 'Heil Hitler' salute.

But at least England won 3-0 with goals from George Camsell (two) and Cliff Bastin, Middlesbrough and Arsenal greats respectively.

England once played Germany in a blue kit at White Hart Lane in December 1935

A swastika flew above the stadium and the German team performed a 'Heil Hitler' salute

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, speaking at the Sport Industry Breakfast on Monday, said interest in sponsoring their city-based T20 tournament starting in 2020 was such that they were 'fighting people off'.

However, the big problem for the ECB will be that their inaugural competition clashes with the Tokyo Olympics.

Even the all-conquering Premier League saw viewing figures fall by a hefty 19 per cent during the Rio Games last year.

Meanwhile, the next auction of Premier League rights this winter may be too soon for the tech giants to join the bidding.

But it's a sign of their direction of travel that Facebook are appointing a global head of live content and one of the big sports rights players is expected to get the job.